NATO planning rapid-deployment force of 10,000 troops to counter Russia - report 30 Aug 2014 NATO is reportedly working towards the creation of an expeditionary force composed of 10,000 troops from seven different member states as a result of escalating tensions with Russia over the conflict in Ukraine. According to the Financial Times, the force's creation will be spearheaded by Britain and involve contributions from Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, and the Netherlands. Canada is also interested in joining the group, but it's not known what its final decision will be...Air and naval units will be integrated into the group, as well as ground troops led by British commanders.

Vladimir Putin: Don't mess with nuclear-armed Russia 29 Aug 2014 Vladimir Putin raised the spectre of nuclear war with the West on Friday as he defied international condemnation over his decision to send thousands of Russian troops and heavy armour into Ukraine. Accused by Europe and Nato of launching a full-scale invasion of eastern Ukraine, the Russian leader boasted to a group of Russian youngsters that "It's best not to mess with us." In language not seen since the height of the Cold War, he told his audience: "Thank God, I think no one is thinking of unleashing a large-scale conflict with Russia. I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers."

Moscow warns of reprisal over Poland's 'outrageous' airspace closure for Russian Defense Minister's jet 29 Aug 2014 Polish closure of its airspace for the plane of the Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu will not go without an "appropriate response" as it caused a "real threat to flight safety," Russia's Foreign Ministry has stated. The diplomatic standoff on Friday took hours to resolve after Poland refused to grant free passage to Shoygu's plane as he was returning from celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Slovakian national uprising that took place in the town of Banská Bystrica. An hour after the TU-154 left Slovakia, the flyover in Polish airspace was suddenly refused due to the plane's changed status. On the way to the celebrations, Poland designated the minister's flight as civilian, while on the way back, it was changed from civil to military - for "unknown reasons", according to Poland's state air navigation services agency.

US operations in Iraq costing $7.5m a day --Since 16 June, panoply of US operations in Iraq have expanded to include around 60 surveillance flights over Isis territory 29 Aug 2014 America’s newest war in Iraq has cost over half a billion dollars so far, according to Pentagon estimates, all before President Barack Obama decides upon a strategy against Islamic State (Isis) militants. Rear Adm John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters on Friday that daily military operations in Iraq since 16 June, when the White House informed Congress it had ordered up to 275 US troops to bolster embassy security in Baghdad, have cost on average 7.5m. Those operations stretched into their 75th day on Friday, suggesting a cost of around 562.5m.

Isil terrorists 'highly likely' to attack UK, warns David Cameron, as threat level is raised to severe 29 Aug 2014 Islamist terrorists are "highly likely" to attack the UK as David Cameron announced the threat assessment has been raised to its second highest level. It is the first time the threat level has been at "severe" since 2011 when it was reduced to "substantial" and reflects growing concern from the risk of British jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq. It is feared more than 500 have gone and around half of those are now back in the UK, with some possibly planning attacks here.

Britain facing 'greatest terrorist threat' in history 29 Aug 2014 Britain faces the "greatest and deepest" terror threat in the country's history, David Cameron warned as he pledged emergency measures to tackle extremists. The UK threat level was raised to "severe" -- its second highest -- meaning that a terrorist attack is "highly likely" in light of the growing danger from British jihadists returning from Iraq and Syria...The Prime Minister disclosed that Isil (the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) made "specific" threats against the UK and did not rule out military action to tackle the growing problem.

UK terror threat raised from substantial to severe 29 Aug 2014 The level of threat from international terrorism to Britain has been raised from substantial to severe, Theresa May, the home secretary, has announced. This means that an attack is "highly likely", though May said there is no evidence to suggest an attack is imminent. She said the decision to raise the official threat level is "related to developments in Syria and Iraq, where terrorist groups are planning attacks against the west".

Government plans new laws to confiscate passports of potential terrorists --Twenty-three passports already seized 29 Aug 2014 New moves to stop terror suspects travelling in and out of the country are planned amid fears that extremists are returning from Iraq and Syria intent on carrying out atrocities in Britain. David Cameron announced plans for new legislation to make it easier to confiscate the passports of young men sympathetic to the Islamic State's hardline ideology. Twenty-three passports have been seized under legislation introduced last year, but the Government has been warned by the security services that the powers do not go far enough.

Secret Service are searching for car linked to threat against President Obama --Secret Service and Connecticut State Police are looking for car driven by a man that might be armed with assault rifle 29 Aug 2014 The U.S. Secret Service and Connecticut State Police are searching for a car in connection to a possible threat made against President Barack Obama. Federal and state officials are on the hunt for a silver 2014 Volkswagen Jetta with Connecticut license plates, The Hartford Courant reported. According to police, the vehicle is believed to be driven by a man who may have threatened the life of the president.

Secret Service Investigates Report of 'Potentially Suspicious' Person in Area of Obama Visit: Official 29 Aug 2014 Police in Westchester and Secret Service were investigating a report of a "potentially suspicious person and vehicle" near where President Obama visited Friday for a set of fundraising events, authorities say. An official with the Secret Service told NBC News the agency was working with local police to determine the validity of the report. The official did not elaborate on why the person and vehicle were considered suspicious.

Conn. Police On Prowl for Distracted Drivers --Two officers acting as spotters - one on each side of the road - will peer into cars to find offending drivers 28 Aug 2014 Armed with federal money, police from more than two dozen departments around the state are poised to launch a no-texting-while-driving campaign that will have motorists reaching for their wallets instead of their cell phones. Dubbed "U drive. U text. U pay," the initiative kicks off Wednesday in at least 25 towns and cities, from Vernon to Norwich to Stamford. Connecticut is the only state in the nation that got this type of grant to deter distracted driving, said Aaron Swanson of the state Department of Transportation...No matter what techniques are used, Swanson said, motorists should assume they're being watched.

400kg machine part falls into nuclear fuel pool at Fukushima - Tepco 29 Aug 2014 A 400kg machine part fell into a nuclear fuel pool at Japan's crippled Fukushima plant Friday, the operator said. Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said it had not detected any significant changes in radiation readings or in the level of pool water at the No. 3 reactor. Friday's incident occurred shortly after noon during a remotely controlled operation to remove debris from the fuel pool at the unit where the broken reactor still lies untouched. The pool contains 566 fuel rods, most of which are spent.

Mitch McConnell's campaign manager resigns after Iowa bribery scandal deepens 29 Aug 2014 Jesse Benton, the campaign manager for U.S. Senate Minority Leader [sociopath] Mitch McConnell, will resign his post as a bribery scandal from the 2012 presidential campaign threatens to envelop Benton and become a major distraction for McConnell's campaign. Benton told the Herald-Leader that he met with McConnell on Friday afternoon and offered his resignation, which McConnell "reluctantly accepted." Benton's name has surfaced in connection to a bribery scandal dating to his time as former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's political director during the 2012 presidential election.

National Guard using food bank in Rio Grande Valley because troops haven't been paid 29 Aug 2014 The Texas National Guard contacted a Rio Grande Valley food bank Thursday to ask whether the charity had food and gas resources for about 50 soldiers who are in need of assistance because they have not received a p-ych-ck. It is unclear how many soldiers have utilized the Food Bank RGV in Hidalgo County so far because clients are not asked to detail their employment, said Omar Rodriguez, manager of communications and advocacy for the charity organization. Texas Army National Guard Brigadier General Patrick Hamilton told the San Antonio Express-News requesting services from local charities is an "anomaly" and outside the Guard's protocol, and that no troops visited the food bank to his knowledge.

U.S. judge halts major part of Texas law restricting abortions 29 Aug 2014 A U.S. judge struck down parts of a law restricting abortions in Texas, saying in a decision on Friday that a provision requiring clinics to have certain hospital-like settings for surgeries was unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel said the so-called "ambulatory surgical center requirement" was unjust because it placed an undue burden on women by reducing the number of clinics where they could seek abortions and the regulations had no compelling public health interests. The requirement was to have gone into effect on Sept. 1.